Hanger



April 29, 1941.

B. J. Bos-UCK 2,239,808

HANGER Filed July 14, 1939 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTGFFICE HANGER Bettie J ustiss Bostick, Jacksonville, Fla. `implicationJuly 14, 1939, Serial No. 284,551

(Cl. E11-86) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hanger designated primarily for suspendingsmall articles so frequently washed and dried in homes, but it is to beunderstood that a hanger, in accordance with this invention is for usein any connection for which it may be found applicable, such by way ofexample for displaying articles of merchandise in mercantileestablishments and in store windows.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinaftersetforth, a readily portable hanger for the purpose referred to capable ofbeing expeditiously attached to a window stool, window sill, table,chair, shelf or other support when the hanger is desired for use.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a hanger including `a plurality of normally positioned spacedupstanding arms capable of being readily shifted in unison from normalupstanding position to an f anchored horizontal position for suspendingthe articles desired.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a hanger for the purpose set forth including an extending elementcommon to the arms aforesaid, a combined guiding and holding elementcommon to the arms when they are shifted to and disposed in horizontalposition for suspending articles, and with the arms having their lowerportions disposed upon outwardly directed curves coacting with the guideelement for turning the arms, when shifted from upstanding position tothe horizontal and for turning the arms, whenshifted from the horizontalto upstanding position.

The inventionl further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a hanger for the purpose set forth which is simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, foldable and extendible, foldablein a compact manner when not in use and requiring small storage space,conveniently attached to a support when desired for use, expeditiouslyextended when required, thoroughly efficient lin its use, andinexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the foregoing aims and others which may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifioally referred to and asillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed. y

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in sec'- tion and side elevationof the hanger showing it attached to a support and further illustratingin full lines the suspension arms in retracted position and in dottedlines such arms in extended or suspended position,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 Figure l,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a fragmentaryview in top plan of the anchoring element for the arms whenv the latterare in suspended position.

The hanger inclu-des astandard I., a base 2, a plurality of spacedsuspension arms 5 of like form, a combined shifting and coupling element6 for the arms 5, a combined guiding and holding element 'I for the arms5 and a coupling structure 8 for the base 2.

The standard I is of the desired length and of squared cross section.The standard I at its lower end is formed withv a reduced terminalportion 9 of circular cross section. At the junction of the portion 9 ofthe remaining part of the standard I the latter is formed witha'shoulder Ill. The reduced portion 9 of the standard I is arrangedwithin an opening II formed in the base 2 and such portion is secured tothe base 2 by the holdfast'means 4. Theshoulder I0 on the standard I Aisseated upon the upper face of the base 2. The opening II is arranged inthe base 2 between its transverse median and outer side surface thereof.The base 2 may be of any desired width and breadth, but it has a flatlower surface. Each arm 5 is formed of any suitable material, and it isof rod-like form and preferably of circular cross section. Each arm 5includes a straight upper portion I2, an outwardly directed curvedintermediate portion I3 The upper and an annular lower portion I4. endof the portion I2 is of globular form, as indicated at I5. The number ofthe arms 5 may be as desired, but by way of example the number of thearms shown is five.- The arms are arranged in equidistant spacedrelation -and each is formed of what may be termed an upper or outerstretch and alower or inner stretch. upper stretch is normally disposedat an outward inclination throughout with respect to standard I. Thelower stretch normally extends downward and-outward with respect to anupper stretch and standard I.

The combined shifting and coupling element 6 consists of a substantiallysemi-circular plate or coupling portion I6 formed in proximity to itscurved edge with a semi-circular row of spaced The' openings I1corresponding in number to the number of the arms 5. The openings I1 arearranged in equidistant spaced relation and have rounded edges I8. Theinner side of the annular portion I4 of an arm 5 extends through anopening I1 and the outer side of the annular portion I4 of the arm isarranged against the curved edge I9 of the plate I6, whereby the armsare connected to the plate I6. The annular portions I4. of the arms 5extend above and depend below the plate I6. The element 6 is slidablymounted on the standard I and for such purpose the plate I6 centrally ofits straight edge 26 is formed with a square opening 2| and integralwith the lower face of the plate I6 and flush with the edges of theopenings 2| is a depending square sleeve or part 22 which slidablycouples element 6 to the standard I. The plate or cou.-

pling portion I6 is disposed at right angles tothe sleeve 22 and thestandard I. The manner of connecting the arms 5 to the: plate. I6radially disposes said arms with respect to the opening 2 I.

When the arms 5 are in retracted position the portion|3 of each armextends towards the post or the standard I toa point in proximitythereto and the portionsv I2 of the arms 5 extend Vat an outwardinclination lfrom their lower to their upper ends with respect tothestandard I.

The element 1 includes a semi-circular plate 23 which is secured uponthe top of the standard I by the holdfast means '24. The plate 23 isdisposed at right angles to the standard I. The securing means 24 isintersected by the horizontal median of the plate 23. The latterextendsforwardly from the front of the standard I and laterally withrespect to each side of the standard I. The straight edge 25 of theplate 23 is ush with the rear edge of the standard. The plate 23 inproximity to its curved edge 26 is formed with a semi-circular row ofequidistant oval-shaped slots 21 which are radially disposed Withrespect to the standard I. The portions I2 of the arms 5 extend upwardlythrough the slots 21 and the said. slots are so disposed as to maintainthe portions I2 of the arms 5 in spaced relation with respect to thestandard i.

The structure 8 includes an upper clamping member 28 and a lowerclamping member 29. The member 28 is formed from a single length ofspring Wire of the desired gauge bent to provide a U-shaped upperportion 3B, a pair of upstanding spaced parallel arms 3| depending fromthe sides of the portion 3|! at the open end of the latter and a pair ofhorizontally disposed latching arms 32 extending upwardly at right iangles to the lower ends of the arms 3| and provided with inturned innerend terminal portions 33. The member 29 consists of a block 34 having asquared portion 35 and a tapered portion 36. The square portion 35 hasarranged on its vertical median a row of interposed openings 31 whichare selectively engaged by the terminal portions 33. The thickness ofthe block 34 corresponds to the distance between the arms 32.

The manner in which the clamping structure 8 is employed to attach thehanger to a support 38 will now be referred to. With reference to Figurel, it will be noted that the base 2 is mounted on the support 38 inproximity to the side edge of the latter and that the upper porn tion 3Uof the clamping member 28 is mounted on the upper surface of the base 2and surrounds the sleeve 22. The arms 3| are then positioned against anedge of the support 38 and the arms 32 engage in yan opening 31 in theclamping member 23. Beforethe terminal portions 33 of the arms 32 areengaged in an opening 31, the clamping member 29 is arranged against thelower face of the support 38. The openings 31 permit of the clampingmember 29 being employed in connection with supports of differentthicknesses.

It will be assumed that the hanger is to be used for suspending articlesfrom the arms 5, but that the hanger is in the full line position shownby Figure 1. rlhe element 6 is shifted upwardly from the full lineposition shown in Figure 1 to the dotted line position shown inFigure 1. The upward shifting of the element 6 is had by grasping thesleeve 22 and moving it upwardly on the standard When element 6 is movedupwardly the arms 5 are shifted upwardly in unison in the same directionuntil the portions I3 pass through the slots 21 and the action of thecurved portions I3 of the arms 5 on, the walls of the slots 21 willprovide for the turning of the arms 5 from upstanding position to thehorizontal, as is indicated by dotted lines in Figure l. The sleeve 22will have a close sliding fit with the standard I, that is to say itwill frictionally engage with the standard. When the arms 5 are disposedin a horizontal position the weight of the articles on said arms willtend to maintain them in such position. The arms 5 are moved to fullline position shown in Figure 1 by shifting the sleeve 22 from itsdotted line position to its full line position, Figure 1.

The clamping member 2-8 is permanently connected with the base 2, inthevmanner as shown in Figure 1 and the clamping member 29 preferaibly willbe carried by the member 28. When it is desired the member 29 may bedisconnected from the member 28.

Vilhat IV claim is:

l. In a hanger, a base, a standard secured at its lower end tothe base,a flat horizontally disposed combined guide and holder element securedupon the upper end of and disposed at right angles to the standard, saidelement beingr formed with a row of radially disposed spaced slots, acombined shifting and coupling element having a portion slidably mountedon the standard and a horizontally disposed part extended outwardly 'atright angles to said portion, said part being formed with a row ofradially disposed spaced openings corresponding in number and positionto said slots, and a normally upstanding set of extendible andretractible suspension arms having annular lower ends extending throughsaid openings and having their upper ends extending through said slots,said lower ends overlapping spaced portions of said part for looselyconnecting the arms to said part, said arms permanently positioned inand having inwardly curved parts adjacent said lower ends coacting withsaid slots for automatically disposing the major portion of said armsfrom upstanding to horizontal position when the combined shifting andcoupling element is disposed inq proximity to said combined guide andholder element. v

2. In a hanger, a base, a standard secured at its lower end to thelbase, a horizontally disposed semi-circular combined guide and holderelement secured upon the upper end of the standard and formed with anarcuate row of radially disposed spaced slots, a combined shifting andcoupling element having a portion slidably mounted on the standard and ahorizontally disposed semi-circular part extended outwardly at rightangles to said portion, said part being formed with an arcuate row ofradially disposed spaced openings `corresponding in number and positionto said slots, and a normally upstanding set of extendible andretractible suspension arms having their lower ends coacting with saidopenings and overlapping said part for loosely connecting the arms tosaid part, said arms permanently positioned in and having parts thereoffor extending through and coacting with said slots for automaticallydisposing other parts of said arms from upstanding to horizontalposition When the combined shifting and coupling element is disposed inproximity to s aid com# bined guide and holder element, each of saidarms including an upper portion inclined to the vertical, an annularlower portion and an intermediate portion curving outwardly from thelower end of the upper portion and merging into the upper end ofsaidlower portion.

3. In a hanger a base, a standard secured at its lower end to the base,a semi-circular horizontally disposed `combined guide and holder elementsecured to and extended from the upper end of the standard, said elementbeing formed with an arcuate row of radially disposed spaced oval-shapedslots, a combined shifter and coupler element having a portion slidablymounted on the standard and a semi-circular part extended laterally fromsaid portion, said part being formed with an arcuate row of radiallydisposed spaced openings, and a set of extendible and retractiblesuspension arms of like form each consisting of an upper inclinedstretch and a lower curved stretch extending outwardly in oppositedirections with respect to each other and to the standard, the curvedstretches of said arms having annular portions at their lower endsoverlapping portions of and extending through the openings in said partfor loosely connecting the arms to the latter, said upper stretches ofsaid arms normally arranged in said slots, said curved stretchesscoactng with said slots for automatically disposing the upper stretchesof said arms in horizontal relation with respect to the standard whenthe combined shifter and coupler element is shifted on the standard to apoint in proximity to the combined guide and holder element.

BETIIE JUSTISS BOS'IICK.

